Help! Door speaker mounting headache...

[getluky]

Help! I've taken some aftermarket speakers off the doors to repair a cheapskate wiring job, and I don't really know how to get them back on due to a crappy install that must have happened a long, long time ago.

It looks like the installer must have cut oversize holes in the door metal and glued on some thick cardboard to mount wrong-size speakers in the door holes of my 87 Carrera. Unfortunately, at some point the cardboard disintegrated (probably due to Targa window leakage), and prior to my pulling them out, the speakers were basically only attached to the thin cardboard door panel by a few circlips that were mostly gone.

Here are some photos of the situation:

The passenger door panel (no more mounting cardboard exists, and the speaker had fallen in).





The driver side door panel, which shows a small piece of cardboard that somehow survived (looks about 1/2" thick).




How these things were attached:



I would like to find some way to get speakers securely mounted so they don't fall into the hollow door area anymore. Should I just go look for cardboard and follow in the footsteps of the genius who originally set this up, or is there another way to try and recover from this travesty?

[RSTarga]

do a search here for speaker install. there is one that covers the whole process.

[86 911 Targa]

Originally Posted by getluky

Help! I've taken some aftermarket speakers off the doors to repair a cheapskate wiring job, and I don't really know how to get them back on due to a crappy install that must have happened a long, long time ago.

It looks like the installer must have cut oversize holes in the door metal and glued on some thick cardboard to mount wrong-size speakers in the door holes of my 87 Carrera. Unfortunately, at some point the cardboard disintegrated (probably due to Targa window leakage), and prior to my pulling them out, the speakers were basically only attached to the thin cardboard door panel by a few circlips that were mostly gone.

Here are some photos of the situation:

The passenger door panel (no more mounting cardboard exists, and the speaker had fallen in).





The driver side door panel, which shows a small piece of cardboard that somehow survived (looks about 1/2" thick).




How these things were attached:



I would like to find some way to get speakers securely mounted so they don't fall into the hollow door area anymore. Should I just go look for cardboard and follow in the footsteps of the genius who originally set this up, or is there another way to try and recover from this travesty?

Bigger speakers?

Window clearance?

[Jonny042]

I had a similar situation with mine, and ended up making adapters to fill the hole and provide proper, solid, mounting for the speakers. If you search long enough you should be able to find a drawing posted here for a squarish plate roughly 7"x 7" that another member made.

He used mdf (which is a similar material to your "cardboard") which is not waterproof, others have used cutting boards (plastic).

I made mine with 3/16" aluminum plate (cut easily enough with a jigsaw) which fastened to the door sheet metal, and the speakers in turn mounted to the plate, with the door panel sandwiched between.

IMO this is the only way to do it properly. Although the factory actually hung the speakers on four studs incorporated in the back of the door panel... but this brought to you by the same dept who designed the door pockets.... don't get me started!!!

[kdubb]

That's why I made and sold my "Pocket Panel." It may not be to your liking or style, but it allowed me to put 7 1/2" woofer and a seperate tweeter in the door. I stop selling them when I moved from California to Indiana, but I'm thinking of doing it again.

Kevin

[getluky]

Originally Posted by Jonny042

He used mdf (which is a similar material to your "cardboard") which is not waterproof, others have used cutting boards (plastic).

I made mine with 3/16" aluminum plate (cut easily enough with a jigsaw) which fastened to the door sheet metal, and the speakers in turn mounted to the plate, with the door panel sandwiched between.

IMO this is the only way to do it properly. Although the factory actually hung the speakers on four studs incorporated in the back of the door panel... but this brought to you by the same dept who designed the door pockets.... don't get me started!!!

Cutting board sounds like it could be a good choice for a mounting panel, and should last through the rain. I'll probably have to design my own plans to fit the existing hole, but this sounds like it might be a good way to go, thanks!

[ctcranor]

Originally Posted by kdubb

That's why I made and sold my "Pocket Panel." It may not be to your liking or style, but it allowed me to put 7 1/2" woofer and a seperate tweeter in the door. I stop selling them when I moved from California to Indiana, but I'm thinking of doing it again.

Kevin

Kevin, I'd be interested if you decided to start up again.

Chris

[RWebb]

install larger high quality speakers to the door sheet metal after you prime it with Rustoleum and paint it; use a cover or cap over the back end of the cone; wire with decent quality wire; and put a round piece of thin closed cell foam in between the speaker and the mounting (go to a SCUBA divers store and get some thin sheet from them or buy it from a car stereo place)

install the grills to the vinyl door card, or you can replace it with a nice one then install the grill to that

you can add sound deadener in strips to the door sheet metal and put a piece of DynaXorb behind each speaker

this is an opportunity to inspect inside the door for rust and fix it all up; lube everything etc.

[ben parrish]

Looks like the PO took out the larger speakers and put the pee wee's back in. Just get larger speakers.
By the way, how were they mounted when you took them out?

[Jonny042]

I looked at your pics again and the "plan" built spacers should work.

[getluky]

@RWebb thanks, it looks like i'll be doing a little cleaning now that I'm in there. The speakers weren't even working, and that's why I took it all apart, so if it produces sound at all I'll be happy.

@ben It looks like these were mounted to mdf board that basically completely disintegrated between the door skin and the metal. It looks like it was glued on, and the only reason I know it was there is because the left side has one corner that somehow survived it all.

@Jonny042, is this the thread with the plan you mentioned? Car Stereo Installation

[RWebb]

there is a thread on smart things to do while the doors are opened up

post again if you can't search it up and I may be able to post a list for a different vehicle (VW Vanagon)